Earth science news covering geology, seismology, volcanology, plate tectonics, and planetary surface processes.
Researchers launched the Global Glacier Extinction Explorer, revealing nearly half of Earth's glaciers could disappear by 2100 under +1.5°C warming. New findings highlight the Himalayas approaching a tipping point with accelerated retreat threatening water security, while a recent Nepal-Tibet collapse killed at least 1,300 people.
Geomorphologist Brigid Lynch discovered a set of mastodon molars in a California creek bed, initially mistaking them for rocks. The piece explains that mastodons, distinct from mammoths, roamed North America until roughly 10,000 years ago before going extinct due to climate change and human hunting.
Scientists have successfully mapped 39,619 grounded icebergs around Antarctica using artificial intelligence and satellite radar. The study reveals that most of these icebergs are small, under 1 square kilometre, yet they collectively form a structural barrier known as the "picket fence effect." This discovery provides a new baseline for understanding how these stationary formations help hold landfast sea ice in place against ocean forces.
The article argues that advancements in physics could significantly improve volcanic eruption prediction, contrasting current limited forecasting with the successful but imprecise methods used during the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. It suggests that deeper scientific understanding is key to saving more lives.